Eric Boggs
The regular season has come to a close for the Ohio State Buckeyes men’s basketball team, and after navigating one of the toughest schedules in the Big Ten Conference, the Buckeyes now know exactly where they stand heading into the postseason. Thanks to a strong finish that included a 91–78 win over the Indiana Hoosiers and late results elsewhere in the conference, Ohio State has secured the No. 8 seed in the newly expanded 18-team Big Ten Tournament.
The Scarlet and Gray narrowly edged out the Iowa Hawkeyes for the final double-bye position in the bracket, allowing them to avoid the first two rounds and begin tournament play on Thursday in Chicago. Ohio State’s first game will tip off at noon and will be broadcast on Big Ten Network, marking the start of what the Buckeyes hope will be a deep March run.
As the No. 8 seed, Ohio State will face the winner of the matchup between ninth-seeded Iowa and the victor of the opening-round contest between the No. 16 seed Oregon Ducks and No. 17 seed Maryland Terrapins. Each potential opponent presents a different storyline for the Buckeyes based on how the regular season unfolded.
Iowa appears to be the most likely opponent if the bracket holds, and it would present a quick opportunity for redemption. The Hawkeyes defeated Ohio State 74–57 on Feb. 25 in Iowa City, a game in which the Buckeyes struggled offensively and played without key center Christoph Tilly. Should those two teams meet again on Thursday, it would give Ohio State a chance to correct the issues that plagued them in that earlier matchup.
If Oregon manages to survive the early rounds, the Buckeyes would see a familiar opponent they handled earlier this season. Ohio State defeated the Ducks 72–62 on the road at Matthew Knight Arena on Jan. 8 in one of its most balanced performances of the year. In that game, all five Buckeye starters scored in double figures, a formula head coach Jake Diebler would gladly welcome again on a neutral floor.
A matchup with Maryland would also favor the Scarlet and Gray based on their regular-season meeting. Ohio State dominated the Terrapins 82–62 in College Park on Feb. 5 behind strong performances from Bruce Thornton, Christoph Tilly and guard John Mobley Jr., who combined for 51 points in the convincing victory.
No matter the opponent, the Buckeyes understand the stakes. Survive and advance is the name of the game this time of year, and one win would move Ohio State into a high-profile quarterfinal showdown.
If the Buckeyes handle their business on Thursday, they would advance to face the tournament’s top seed and regular-season champion, the Michigan Wolverines. Michigan swept the season series, defeating Ohio State 74–62 in Ann Arbor and later claiming an 82–61 victory in Columbus. In both meetings, Michigan’s size and efficiency on the glass created major problems for the Buckeyes.
Still, March has a way of rewriting narratives. For Ohio State to flip the script in a potential rematch, controlling the boards and limiting second-chance points will be essential. The Buckeyes have shown throughout the season that when their offense finds rhythm and the defense tightens up, they can compete with anyone in the conference.
Now the focus shifts fully to Chicago. With the No. 8 seed secured and momentum coming off a strong senior-day performance, Ohio State enters the Big Ten Tournament knowing the path won’t be easy. But with veteran leadership, improved confidence and an NCAA Tournament berth potentially within reach, the Buckeyes have every reason to believe their season still has meaningful basketball left to play.
